The BBC Sports Personality of the Year vote will be the litmus test but the overwhelming public response to Tyson Fury's stupendous effort against Deontay Wilder suggests that his redemption is now complete.

Fury has closed to fourth favourite in the betting for the award of which he was almost removed from the ballot three years ago.

The rediscovered admiration for the Gypsy King, coupled with a popular belief that he was robbed of becoming world heavyweight champion a second time, seems to have laid to rest the storm of controversy which greeted his traditional religious beliefs.

Tyson Fury appears to have claimed redemption following his draw with Deontay Wilder

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Rightly so.

Those were remarks made when he was battling serious mental ill-health prior to his sensational upset of Wladimir Klitschko, after which he sank into chronic depression which kept him out of the ring for more than two years.

The maturity with which Fury has handled his disappointment with the judges scoring as a draw Saturday night's title fight in a pulsating Staples Center raises hope that he has his demons fully under control.

This, as well what he describes as 'the best performance of my career,' has brought back from darkness into light the genuine human being better known to those of us who have followed his turbulent journey closely.

'The real me has been here since I came back to the ring,' he says. 'It was about time that everyone saw the real Tyson Fury.

'I've definitely got the recognition from the boxing fans and now I feel I've more support than ever before.

There were attempts to get Fury ejected from the SPOTY nominee list after his 2015 title win

'I know I've made a massive impact on America with this fight. Everyone here had heard about the legend of Tyson Fury, now they've seen why.

'And yes, I think I can be the first really big British boxing star in the US. I am an entertainer, wouldn't you say?' Yes we would. Certainly everybody who witnessed Saturday night's epic in downtown LA or on pay-per-view.

The world would relish the rematch, which would be more likely to take place in Las Vegas next spring than a football ground in England if the TV revenue numbers of even richer potential dictate the choice of venue.

Two other factors may intervene. First, whether Wilder's handlers believe it worth the risk of losing to Fury again. Second, whether Anthony Joshua finally comes to the post for a unification fight with his rival world champion of even richer potential, now that the eyes of the world have turned towards the other two giants who stepped up to put everything on the line against each other so dramatically.

No-one could take their eyes off Fury, even when he was prostrate on the canvas.

It was even more compelling to watch him somehow get up while still barely conscious. That, in a way, was a metaphor for his recovery in life. Brave and in defiance of the odds.

He is fourth favourite with bookmakers to lift the BBC prize after his performance in LA

Will the SPOTY voters see it that way? Or will they go for Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, or Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton?

Either way Fury, who was upset by the attempt to eject him last time he was in the frame, will accept that verdict with good grace.

He says: 'All that happened back then is what it was. This is a new game, a new era, a new everything. If I get it, I get it. If I don't, God bless the person who does.'

But if the BBC really want a winner who lives up to the title for their award, there is no bigger personality out there than Tyson Fury.